Sunday, November 22, 2009

If we never had a Christmas

It's beginning to feel like Christmas and I'm beginning to feel excited. I've heard some Christians say that we don't need to celebrate Christ's birth because Jesus never told his followers to remember his birth, only his death. Well, I disagree. Christmas reminds us of the simplicity of God. He wanted Jesus to have a beginning on earth. Just like us. We all have to start life as a baby, defenseless and dependant on our parents. It's heartwarming to know that God came down from heaven's glory to share with us in the human experience. He wanted to feel what we feel, to feel hungry, sad, tired, and even lonely sometimes. Why? Because He loves us. What an amazing God.

If we never celebrated Christmas
What would earth be like today?
And if God’s Son had not been born,
Wouldn't heaven seem far away.
And what would people celebrate
If there was no Christmas story.
How could our hearts rejoice and sing
About the wonder of God’s glory.
Though some will try to banish Christ
From Christmas celebrations
The Holy Child’s simple birth
Defies all explanations.
Who can understand this mystery
And God's Christmas gift of love
It’s the answer to a better world
And unites us with the Lord above.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Let Us Pray

It's Remembrance Day. A day to remember the men and women that serve our country and risk their lives by going to war. I wonder what it's like to be faced with that kind of situation. Scary, I imagine. There is much I don't understand about life and war is one of them. What starts war, anyways. Hatred, pride, desire for control and greed. In 1 Peter 3, Peter wrote, "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."
Do you want God's Blessings? I sure do. Have a blessed day. Lest we Forget!

Let us pray for our country each night and day
That no other wars will pass our way.
Let us pray for a world that longs for peace
And the cry for war will finally cease.
Let us pray that the pain that war bestows
And the grief that a mother’s heart well knows
Will finally come to fitting end
And nations will call each other friend.
Let us pray that our children will never dream of guns
But of home and friendships; not of battles won.
Let us pray and join forces with loved ones who care,
Of the ones who have died for the freedom we share.
Let us pray for hatred to vanish and be replaced with love
And for God's good blessings as he looks from above.